yan and Kia sat there in the quiet living room, the space between them thin, fragile, trembling with unspoken things.
Then—
Soft footsteps.
A tiny sniffle.
And a sleepy voice.
"…Uncle Kia?"
Both men turned.
Lila stood at the bottom of the stairs, hair messy, blanket dragging behind her, half-asleep.
Ryan blinked.
She never — NEVER — left her bed at night unless she was extremely upset.
"Kia…" she whispered, rubbing her eyes. "I had a bad dream…"
She wobbled.
Before Ryan could stand, Kia was already moving.
He crouched down and opened his arms carefully.
Lila didn't even hesitate.
She ran straight into his chest.
Not Ryan's.
Not Leo's room.
Not her teddy bear.
Kia.
Kia froze for half a second… then gently lifted her into his arms.
"It's okay," he whispered, brushing her hair. "I'm here."
Lila buried her face in his neck.
Ryan felt something sharp slice through his chest.
A realization he had been avoiding.
Blood is thicker than water… but whatever Kiа had with his kids—
it was something deeper.
Natural.
Instinctive.
Unexplainable.
His kids didn't bond quickly.
In five whole years:
They never ran to strangers.
They never slept in somebody's arms.
They never cried for someone that wasn't him or Leo.
They never begged to call ANYONE on the phone.
But with Kia?
In three days:
They clung to him.
They waited for him.
They cried when he didn't show up.
They begged to talk to him.
And now… Lila was breathing softly into his neck like he belonged to her.
Ryan's throat tightened.
His mind whispered something he did NOT want to think:
"Is blood calling blood…?"
He looked away quickly.
But the thought wouldn't stop.
Would. Not. Stop.
Kia carried Lila gently, holding her like the most fragile thing in the world.
"Shhh, sweetheart… it's okay," he murmured. "I'm right here."
Ryan swallowed hard.
He had never seen Lila so comfortable with anyone.
"Kia," Ryan said softly.
Kia looked up, worried.
Ryan nodded toward the stairs.
"She'll sleep better if you tuck her in."
Kia hesitated.
"Are you sure?"
Ryan forced a calm expression.
"Yes. She wants you."
That last part hurt.
More than it should.
More than he'd ever admit.
Kia adjusted his hold and walked toward the staircase, Lila's tiny hand gripping his shirt tightly.
Halfway up the stairs, she mumbled sleepily:
"Don't go again… okay?"
Kia stopped.
His back tensed.
"I won't," he whispered. "I promise."
Ryan's chest twisted painfully at the sincerity in his voice.
The moment they disappeared upstairs, the house fell silent again.
Too silent.
Ryan sat alone on the couch, fingers trembling slightly.
His thoughts were loud.
Lila chose Kia.
Leo cried for Kia.
The twins clung to him like something in their blood recognized him.
Ryan stared at the stairs, his heart pounding.
The truth was right there…
right in front of him…
and he wasn't ready for it.
He didn't know if he was terrified…
Or if he wanted to finally stop running from it.